Maintaining pressure on the government both inside and outside Parliament, the Opposition refused the government’s offer of a debate on paper leaks, arguing that any discussion must be preceded by the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Later in the evening, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc MPs in a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg, where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, expressing solidarity with students protesting against paper leaks.

“Our leader Mahatma Gandhi ji was assassinated here. Today, the Modi government is assassinating democracy in India, brutalising students, and beating them,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters at Gandhi Smriti after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

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Road blocked

He said the Opposition parties would not accept such treatment of students and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise and sack Mr. Pradhan. The Opposition’s symbolic march in the evening was not without its share of drama, as the Delhi Police had blocked access points to Sunehri Bagh Road, where Mr. Gandhi’s official residence is located.

After Mr. Gandhi had taken the unprecedented step of sitting on a dharna outside the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday, the government deployed two busloads of CRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel close to his residence. Additionally, a bus was placed outside the road blocking the bus carrying Opposition MPs.

The Opposition parties also had to change the venue of their evening vigil after they were not allowed to gather at India Gate. Top Opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and P. Chidambaram, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, NCP’s Supriya Sule, and RJD’s Manoj Jha, were part of the solidarity march.

More joint campaigns

The evening march was a result of what was decided at the morning meeting of the INDIA bloc, and more such joint campaigns are being planned. According to sources, at the INDIA bloc meeting on Thursday morning, there were a few stray voices advocating that the Opposition should participate in the debate to present its point of view. However, this opinion was immediately rejected by others who felt that Mr. Pradhan’s resignation had to take precedence over everything else, in keeping with public sentiment.

Mr. Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav both argued strongly that no concession could be given on this demand. The Leader of Opposition said that the mood of the nation was “combative” and that the Opposition had to reflect this. He reiterated his comments from Wednesday’s meeting that there should be synchronisation between what the Opposition does inside Parliament and what it does outside it. Mr. Gandhi also argued that the Opposition’s actions needed to be democratised.

Mirror public sentiment

Moreover, it was felt that a debate would give the government an opportunity to grandstand and filibuster its way through by leaning on its numerical strength in the two Houses of Parliament. There was a unanimous decision that, as “public representatives”, the Opposition had to reflect public sentiment without giving the government any leeway.

The Opposition, meanwhile, reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post on X. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha leader John Brittas said accountability must begin at the top, arguing that fast-track courts cannot address the systemic failures behind paper leaks. CPI general secretary D. Raja accused the government of systematically weakening the education system through policies that promote the “commercialisation, centralisation and communalisation” of education, and said the Prime Minister’s remarks failed to address students’ concerns. Senior RJD leader Manoj K. Jha called the remarks an attempt to “fool the nation”.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said the government has agreed to their request to hold talks at a neutral venue on Friday (July 24, 2026) and reiterated to push forward their demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, one of the core demands of the students.

The discussions will take place at the Constitution Club of India.The development came after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike at Medanat Hospital in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at a hospital.

CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das told reporters that a discussion has been called for and welcomed the government’s decision to hold it at a neutral venue.

“Tomorrow [July 24, 2026], a discussion has been called for, we are very happy that the government has agreed to our request that it be at a neutral venue. The Constitution Club of India has been chosen,” Mr. Das said.

CJP spokesperson Vaishnavi Gaur said, “The government has agreed to meet us at a neutral place. We will be putting our demands, which we have been consistent with from the first day. The four demands: Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Second is compensation for the families… All the FIRs on innocent protesters should be lifted.”

CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke on Friday (July 24, 2026) said Sonam Wangchuk’s life was “far too precious to this country” after he ended his 26-day hunger strike and hailed his extraordinary courage and sacrifice. He noted that Sonam Wangchuk “put his own life in danger” for “awakening the conscience of an entire nation.”

In a post on X, Mr. Dipke said, “We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country.”

Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday (July 23, 2026) backed the students protesting against repeated exam paper leaks, saying their disappointment is understandable and it is the society’s collective responsibility to ensure that they “don’t feel this way again.”

Posting on ‘X’, Mr. Tendulkar said his late father Ramesh Tendulkar, who was a professor, instilled in him certain values quite early in life, the primary one being “Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts.”

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“As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy. Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable,” Mr. Tendulkar stated.

“Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don’t feel this way again,” he added.

The protests that began on July 20 at Jantar Mantar have taken a violent turn with police resorting to lathi-charge on multiple occasions, citing law and order concerns.

The agitation is being spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party with support of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast in solidarity with the students.

They are demanding the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for the NEET paper leaks that led to a re-test recently.

Multiple students died by suicide across the country in the aftermath of the paper leak.

Mr. Tendulkar said he is hopeful of a solution coming through and stressed on the need to promote a culture which rewards honesty and in which merit wins.

“As a society, all of us, including parents, teachers, friends, relatives, schools, and administrators, have a massive responsibility and different roles to play in ensuring our youth remain encouraged and energised.”

“We must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins. I am certain we will all find solutions that strengthen our children’s future and safeguard their aspirations,” he said.

On Thursday (July 23), Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement to say that fast track courts would be set up to ensure speedy trials of those accused of leaking the exam papers.

The seventeenth day of protests at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation saw larger crowds than Monday (July 13, 2026), following an increasing number of voices urging activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike.

Mr. Wangchuk has lost 8.5 kilograms, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said.

AAP chief Kejriwal urges Wangchuk to end hunger strike; will meet him on July 16

A growing chorus of Opposition voices urged Mr. Wangchuk, 59, to end his fast. Actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, economist Jayati Ghosh, writer Arundhati Roy, and multiple professors from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, either sent in a written petition or showed up in person to appeal to Mr. Wangchuk.

As concerns grow over Mr. Wangchuk’s health, the crowd swelled on Tuesday (July 14, 2026), growing threefold overnight. Over 1,800 “writers, academics, social activists and other concerned citizens” signed on to an online petition asking Mr. Wangchuk to end his fast. 

Three students with the All India Students’ Association (AISA), affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, ended their fast, with one being hospitalised on Monday. Three other students remain, and have vowed to fast until the conclusion of the hunger strike one way or another.

Appeal to Wangchuk

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav appealed to Mr. Wangchuk to end his fast in a post on X.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said on X, “The government doesn’t care about your life or that of crores of youth. But your life matters to us. Please call off the fast and continue the fight.”

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke with Mr. Wangchuk over the phone and “urged him to stay strong,” Abhijeet Dipke, CJP’s founder, said on X. Omi Vaidya, the American actor who played Chatur Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, whose protagonist is said to be based on Mr. Wangchuk, also urged in a video that the fast come to an end.

Mr. Dipke said on Tuesday morning that Mr. Wangchuk rebuffed calls to end his fast. ““Don’t ask me to end my fast,” Mr. Dipke quoted the activist as saying in a post on X. “Ask the govt. why they won’t even have a dialogue.”

I am not Gandhi; be your own hero: Wangchuk amid indefinite fast

Call to political leaders

The CJP invited Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to the protest, along with nineteen other political leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. Most of the leaders have not spoken on the protest. “We again sincerely appeal to the leaders to keep aside their politics and lend their voice to the voice of the young,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said.

Two former Delhi Chief Ministers have spoken up on Mr. Wangchuk’s fast, Arvind Kejriwal and Aatishi. The latter visited the protest site and met with the activist on Monday. Mr. Kejriwal said that he supported the CJP’s demands, and urged Mr. Wangchuk to end his fast.

The protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi entered its tenth day on Monday (June 29, 2026), with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke highlighting the recent cases of student deaths and criticising the government’s alleged lack of response to the families affected.

In a series of posts on X, Mr. Dipke named students — Pradeep Meghwal, Aakansha Chaturvedi, Amaira Kumar and Kahaan Patel, saying their families were being made to “beg for justice”. He alleged that no government representative had contacted them to express regret over the deaths of their children.

“I really don’t understand how people in power can be not just so indifferent, but so arrogant that they don’t even feel the need to reach out to families who have lost their children,” Mr. Dipke said.

“You can’t bring their children back, but the very least you can do is express regret and apologise to their families. Is that too much to ask?” he added.

Mr. Dipke also shared a video of his interaction with the father of NEET aspirant Kahaan Patel, who died by suicide on June 18. Patel’s father travelled from Gujarat to Jantar Mantar to voice his concerns with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In the video, Patel’s father questioned how his son was being portrayed and emphasised that the family wanted people to truly understand who he was.

Activist Wangchuk, who is on the second day of his hunger strike, called on people to join the fast in support of the CJP and the pressing issues in Ladakh.

“This is the second day of my fast in support of CJP and Ladakh. You can also join us. Come here for a day-long fast. If you can’t come here, observe a day-long fast supporting the demands for reforms in education, accountability, and the environment, and express your solidarity. Whole India should come together to make the country better,” he said.

Mr. Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Sunday (June 28, 2026), aligning with the CJP protest over alleged irregularities in examinations and demanding accountability from the government, including the resignation of Mr. Pradhan.

The CJP protest, which commenced on June 20, is focused on issues surrounding alleged irregularities in the examination system, particularly NEET. Mr. Dipke has stated that the agitation will extend beyond education concerns to include other accountability issues, such as electoral matters, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The protest has also garnered support from students and members of civil society.

Six students associated with AISA continued their hunger strike from a separate stage at the venue and not on the main platform. They include Neha, AISA All India President; Danish, JNUSU Joint Secretary; Manish, AISA Uttar Pradesh President; Deepak, AISA Delhi University Vice President; Hrishikesh, President of Barak Hostel, JNU; and Aameen, former CC member of AUD Students Council.

Late on Sunday (June 28, 2026) night, Mr. Dipke alleged that the Delhi Police denied a portable toilet facility for Mr. Wangchuk, stating that the public toilets at Jantar Mantar do not have a water supply.

Mr. Dipke also shared a ticket from an individual who travelled from Bihar to attend the protest, highlighting the person’s efforts to be present at Jantar Mantar.